Segregating apparatus



A ril 24, 1962 P. E. SEABORN 3,031,073

SEGREGATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 44 PAUL E. SEABORN ATTQRN Ev United States Patent 3,031,078 SEGREGATING APPARATUS Paul E. Seaborn, Campbell, Califi, assignor to FMC Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 834,898 10 Claims. (Cl. 209-121) provide animproved carton segregating apparatus.

Another object is to provide an'improved carton segregating apparatus arranged to rapidly and gently segregate .underweight'and overweight filled cartons from cartons containing the desired weight of product.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for rejecting filled cartons, containing either more or less than the desired weight of product, from a continuous procession of cartons advancing in single file at a high rate of speed.

Another object is to provide means for rapidly actuating the segregating apparatus to effect a diverting operation and for maintaining the apparatus in diverting position for'an interval of time that can be varied to meet the requirements imposed by difierent linear speeds of carton advance.

These and other objects and advantags of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan of the segregating apparatus of the present invention, certain parts being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the segregating apparatus of FIG. 1, certain parts being broken away and others being shown in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, certain parts being broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1, certain parts being broken away.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical system employed in the segregating apparatus of the present invention.

The carton segregating apparatus (FIGS. 1-4) of the present invention is associated with a weight checking machine 12 capable of weighing each of a succession of cartons passing thereover and arranged to emit a signal whenever it receives a filled carton which is either underweight or overweight as compared to a predetermined range of acceptable weights. Machines of this nature are known in the trade as check weighers. If a carton has been filled to the extent that it is overweight, the resulting signal from the check weigher 12 causes an overweight guide track 14 to be moved into a position to intercept the open cover of the overweight carton and divert the carton to one side of the path of movement of cartons of proper weight. Likewise, if a carton is underweight, the signal from the check weigher 12 causes movement of an underweight guide track 16 into a position to intercept the cover of the underweight carton to divert the carton to the other side of the path of movement of cartons of proper weight. Cartons containing the correct weight of product are not diverted by the apparatus'lfl.

The check weigher 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) may be of a well known type comprising a conveyor 17 which includes a belt 18 trained around rollers 20 journalled on a frame 21. The belt 18 is driven so that its upper run continuously moves at high speed in the direction of the arrow A (FIGS. 1 and 2). Filled cartons C (FIG. 4) are fed onto the upper run of the belt 18 and have their covers 0 open and lying in a substantially vertical plane parallel to the direction of movement of the cartons. Suitable apparatus (not shown) associated with the conveyor 17 weighs the cartons and emits a signal when a carton weighed thereby is either underweight or overweight. These signals are transmitted to the apparatus 10 but the check weigher 12 does not emit any signal so long as the cartons are filled with the desired weight of product.

A second conveyor 22 is in end-to-end relation with and receives the cartons from the conveyor 17. The belt 23 of the conveyor 22 is trained around rollers 24 (only one being shown) and has its upper run driven in the same direction and at the same speed as the upper run of the belt 18.

The cover guide track 16 for underweight filled cartons comprises an inner guide member 26 and an outer guide member 28 which members are spaced horizontally from each other a sufiicient distance to allow the upstanding cover a carton to pass freely therebetween. Each member 26 and 28 includes a guide bar 29 and several vertically extending rods 30 welded thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom. The upper ends of the rods 30 are threaded and those rods 30 which are spaced from the forward end of the track 16 extend through slots 31 (FIG. 1) in bridge members 32 which are disposed above and straddle the conveyor 22 at spaced intervals therealong. The bridge members 32 are secured to longitudinal side members 34 and 36 of the frame 21, and the track members 26 and 28 are rigidly connected in laterally adjusted position to the bridge members 32 by nuts 38 (FIG. 2). As can be seen in FIG. 4, the inner track member 26 is positioned closer to the hinge of the carton cover than is the track member 28.

The cover guide track 14 for overweight cartons is substantially the same as the track 16. Therefore, parts of the track 14 which correspond to parts of the track 16 will not be described in detail and will be assigned the same respective numerals followed by the sufiix a.

An inverted U-shaped bridge frame 40 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) straddles the conveyor 17 above the tracks 14 and 16. The bridge frame 40 is rigidly secured to the frame side members 34 and 36 and includes a horizontal support plate 42. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, two solenoids 44 and 46 are bolted to the plate 42 on opposite sides of the hereinbefore mentioned vertical plane occupied by the carton covers 0 as the cartons C advance on the conveyor 17. The armatures 45 and 47 of the solenoids 44 and 46, respectively, extend transversely of the direction of movement of the cartons and toward said vertical plane. A connecting rod 48 having a flattened central portion 49 and a reduced diameter end portion 50 is connected to the armature 45 of the solenoid 44 by a pin 51 and is guided for reciprocatory movement in angle guide members 52 and 54 and in an angle stop member 56. The members 52, 54 and 56 are bolted to the support plate 42. The forwardmost rods 30a of the track 14 for the covers c of overweight cartons C are connected to the flat portion 49 of the connecting rod 48 by nuts 38a. Consequently, the solenoid 44 will here inafter be called the overweight solenoid. A compression spring 60 disposed between the angle guide members 54 and nuts 62 on the reduced diameter portion 50 urges the connecting rod 48 toward the left (FIG. 3), and stop nuts 48 which are screwed onto the reduced diameter portion 50 of the connecting rod 48 limit the amount of connecting rod movement in this direction. When the overweight solenoid is energized, the connecting rod 48 9 a and the forward end of the track 14 for overweight cartons are moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 3.

The armature 47 of the solenoid 46 is secured to a connecting rod 64 (FIG. 3) which is identical to the connecting rod 48 but which extends from its associated solenoid in the opposite direction. The rod 64 is guided by the angle members 52 and 54 and by a stop member 66 that is bolted to the plate 42. The forward end of the track 16 for the covers of underweight cartons C is connected to the connecting rod 64 by its forwardmost rods 30 and nuts 38. Therefore, the solenoid 46 hereinafter will "be called the underweight solenoid. A compression spring 68 is disposed between the angle member 52 and nuts 70 screwed on the connecting rod 64. The compression spring 68 is arranged to urge the forward end of the track 16 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3, and a pair of stop nuts 72 screwed on the connecting rod 64 are arranged to abut against the stop member 66 to limit the amount of movement of the connecting rod 64 in this direction. Upon energization of the solenoid 46, the connecting rod 64 and the forward end of the track 16 are moved to the left (FIG. 3).

When neither solenoid 44 or 46 is energized, the tracks 14 and 16 are held in the non-diverting position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position the members 26 and 26a of the tracks 16 and 14, respectively, are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to allow the cover of a carton of the desired weight to pass therebetween. The carton covers, which are disposed in a substantially vertical position as indicated in FIG. 4, are guided to a point closely adjacent the forward end of the tracks 14 and 16 by a pair of guide shoes 74 and 76 which define a wide entrance opening and a narrow discharge opening. The shoes 74 and 76 include vertical support arms 78 and 80 which are threaded and are screwed into an angle bracket 82 and locked in place by nuts 84. The bracket 82 is bolted to the bridge frame 40.

Means are provided for energizing one or the other of the solenoids 44 and 46 when a carton that does not contain the desired weight of product reaches a point that is a short distance away from the front end of the tracks 14 and 16. Thereafter, this solenoid continues to be energized for such a period of time that the entire icarton cover enters the associated track before the solenoid is de-energized and the track returns to its inoperative position. This arrangement permits handling car- Ions at very high rates, e.g., of the order of from 300 do 600 per minute.

For this purpose a photoelectric cell 90 (FIG. 4) of :any well known design is mounted on the frame member 34 and has its light-sensitive element 92. facing laterally :across the conveyor 17 forwardly of the shoes 74 and 76. A light source 94 is mounted on the frame member 36 and is aimed to project its beam at the light-sensitive element of the cell .90. The photoelectric cell 90 and light source 94 are so positioned that the carton moving on the conveyor toward the tracks 14 and 16 intercepts the light beam and causes the signal emitted by the check weigher 12 to be sent to the proper solenoid 44 or 46, as; the case might be.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates the circuit over which signals are transmitted. The check weigher 12 is effective to close a switch 96 when the carton being weighed is overweight, and to close a switch 98 when the carton being weighed is underweight. Filled cartons of proper or desired weight do not effect these switches. Power is not immediately transmitted to the solenoid 44 or 46 upon actuation of the switch 96 or the switch 98, but is transmitted to the associated solenoid only after interruption of the light beam to the photoelectric cell 90. Interruption of the light beam to the photoelectric cell 90 causes the cell to close certain switches (not shown) causing power to be transmitted to the proper solenoid 44 or 46.

A timer 106 is connected to the control circuit in such a way as to hold the circuit of the energized solenoid closed after the carton has moved out of the beam of light. The timer may be of any well known type and can be adjusted to remain energized for a period of time sufficient to allow the carton cover to move completely into the associated track 14 or 16 before the solenoid is de-energized.

In the operation of the segregating apparatus 10 of the present invention, filled cartons C having their covers 0 disposed in a substantially vertical plane as hereinabove explained, are advanced in single file onto the conveyor 17 of the check weigher 12 which, therefore, is enabled to individually weigh the cartons C. When a carton being weighed is overweight, the check weigher effects the closing of the overweight switch 96 (FIG. 5) to partially prepare the control circuit of the overweight solenoid 44. The circuit is not completed to the solenoid 44, however, until the cover 0 of the overweight carton C interrupts the light beam focused upon the photoelectric cell 90. At this time the circuit to the overweight solenoid 44 is completed causing the solenoid 44 to move the forward end of the track 14 (FIG. 3) into alignment with the guide shoes 74 and 76. Thus, the advancing carton cover c is guided by the shoes 74 and 76 between the members 26a and 28a of the track 14. After the cover moves out of the light beam from the lamp 94, the timer 100 maintains the circuit to the solenoid 44 closed for a predetermined interval suflicient to assure the movement of the entire carton cover into the track 14. The solenoid 44 is then de-energized causing the track 14 to return to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. The overweight carton C whose cover c has thus been captured by the track 14 during the brief interval that the track 14 was in its cover intercepting position is guided to the left (FIG. 3) so as to be withdrawn from the procession of cartons containing the desired weight of product. The diverting of underweight cartons is similar to that described above except that the switch 98 of the check weigher 12 is closed to actuate the solenoid 46, and the captured underweight cartons are displaced to the right (FIG. 3) from the procession of cartons containing the desired weight of product.

Each of the tracks 14 and 16 is sufiiciently flexible to permit its receiving end to be shifted laterally as above described, and the tWo tracks diverge laterally from their forward or receiving ends in the direction of carton advance. Therefore, when the cover of a carton is captured by one of the tracks, that carton is deflected out of the straight path that it otherwise would follow, and toward the left side of the conveyor belt 23 in the case of overweight cartons, and toward the right side of the conveyor belt 23 in the case of underweight cartons. However, both tracks 14 and 16 are quite long as compared to width of the conveyor, and therefore the distance that the carton is deflected is much less than the distance that the carton travels while the deflection is taking place, with the results that the lateral displacement of cartons of improper weight from the procession of cartons of proper weight is so gradual and gentle that damage to the displaced cartons and spilling of their contents as a consequence of their displacement are minimized if not completely avoided. Furthermore, since the tracks 14 and 16 engage each resilient carton cover at a point remote from the hinge line thereof rather than the more solid body of the filled carton, the lateral movement of the forward end of one of the tracks when the associated solenoid is de-e-nergized has little tendency to move the carton laterally, even though, when return movement of the track occurs, the cover of the carton might still be engaged within a part of the track that moves. Engagement of the guide track with the resilient upstanding cover, rather than with the body of the carton, likewise cushions the lateral force that the guide exerts against the carton when diverting the same, and thus minimizing any tendency toward damaging the carton or spilling its contents as a consequence of the diversion of the rapidly moving carton from its straight line advance.

Having thus been withdrawn laterally from the procession of advancing properly filled cartons, overweight cartons to one side and underweight cartons to the other side, all of the overweight cartons can easily be delivered by the conveyor 23 to one receiving means (not shown) and the underweight cartons can be delivered to a separate receiving means (not shown), each of which receiving means is adapted to keep the cartons of improper weight delivered thereto separate from the cartons of proper weight.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the segregating apparatus of the present invention is capable of operating upon cartons moving at high speed, includes a timer which adapts the apparatus for operation at different carton rates, and diverts underweight or overweight cartons very gently.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Pat ent is:

1. In a carton segregating apparatus, a conveyor for advancing a series of cartons having open covers up standing from the bodies of the cartons in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the cartons on said conveyor, first guide means for engaging the covers of the cartons to guide the cartons along a first predetermined path during advancement of the cartons by the conveyor, second guide means for engaging the covers of the cartons to guide the cartons along a second predetermined path during advancement of the cartons by said conveyor, and means for selectively engaging said covers with either of said guide means, each of said guide means being mounted above the conveyor a distance greater than the depth of the carton bodies, each of said guide means including two guide members spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the covers and but a small fraction of the width of the bodies of the cartons.

2. Apparatus for segregating cartons failing to meet certain requirements from cartons meeting said requirements comprising means for advancing the cartons along a predetermined path with the covers of the cartons projecting upward from the carton bodies in a plane parallel to the direction of carton advance, carton deflecting means movably mounted adjacent said advancing means, means for moving said deflecting means into the path of the covers of cartons advancing along said predetermined path, and means actuated by cartons failing to meet said requirements for moving said deflecting means, said deflecting means being mounted above the conveyor a distance greater than the depth of the carton bodies, said deflecting means including two guide members spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the covers and but a small fraction of the widths of the bodies of the cartons.

3. A carton segregating apparatus comprising means for advancing cartons along a predetermined path with the covers of the cartons in a plane parallel to said path, means for checking the weight of each carton and for emitting a sustained signal upon receipt of a carton whose Weight is outside a predetermined weight range, a guide track spaced above the carton advancing means and extending obliquely with regard to said predetermined path, the forward end of said guide track being movable into the path of the covers of cartons advancing in said predetermined path, sensing means mounted adjacent said path a predetermined distance from said guide track and adapted to emit a signal each time a carton advances past the sensing means, and means connected to the guide track, to the checking means, and to the sensing means for moving the forward end of the guide track into said predetermined path upon receiving both of said signals.

4. A carton segregating apparatus comprising means for advancing a line of filled cartons along a predetermined path with the covers of the cartons in a plane parallel to said predetermined path, means for successively checking the weight of the cartons and for emitting a signal upon checking the weight of a carton whose weight is outside a predetermined weight range, a guide track spaced above the carton advancing means and having a movable forward end normally disposed adjacent said path and a rearward end disposed a greater distance from said path, and means connected to the forward end of the guide track and to the weight checking means for moving said forward end of the track into the path of the covers of cartons advancing along said predetermined path in response to said signal to divert away from said predetermined path a carton whose weight is outside said predetermined weight range.

5. A carton segregating apparatus comprising means for advancing a line of filled cartons along a predetermined path with the covers of the cartons in a plane paralel to said predetermined path, means for checking the weight of the cartons successively and for emitting a sustained signal upon checking the weight of a carton whose weight is outside a predetermined weight range, a guide track spaced above the carton advancing means and having a movable forward end normally disposed adjacent said path and a rearward end disposed a greater distance from said path, sensing means mounted adjacent said path a predetermined distance from the forward end of the track and arranged to emit a. signal each time a carton passes the sensing means, and means connected to the forward end of the guide track, to the weight checking means, and to the sensing means for moving the forward end of the track into the path of covers of cartons advancing in said predetermined path upon simultaneous reception of signals from the weight checking means and from the sensing means to divert away from said predetermined path cartons whose weight is outside said predetermined weight range.

6. A carton segregating apparatus comprising means for advancing a line of filled cartons along a predetermined path with the covers of the cartons in a plane parallel to said predetermined path, means for checking the weight of each of the cartons in turn and for emitting a certain signal upon checking the weight of a carton which is overweight and another signal upon checking the Weight of a carton which is underweight, a guide track for overweight cartons spaced above the carton advancing means and having a movable forward end normally disposed adjacent said path and a rearward end spaced a greater distance from said path at one side thereof, guide track for underweight cartons spaced above the carton advancing means and having a movable forward end normally disposed adjacent said path and a rearwrd end spaced a greater distance from said path at the other side thereof, means connected to the forward end of the guide track for overweight cartons and to the weight checking means and operable upon receiving said certain signal for moving the forward end of the track for overweight cartons into the path of the covers of cartons advancing in said predetermined path to divert an overweight carton to said one side of said predetermined path, and means connected to the forward end of the guide track for underweight cartons and to the weight checking means and operable upon receiving said other signal to move the forward end of said last mentioned track into the path of movement of the covers of cartons advancing in said predetermined path to divert an underweight carton to said other side of said predetermined path.

7. A carton segregating apparatus comprising means for advancing cartons along a predetermined path with the covers of the cartons in a plane parallel to said path, means for checking the weight of each advancing carton in turn and for emitting a sustained electrical signal upon checking the weight of a carton failing to meet weight requirements, a guide track normally disposed above the carton advancing means and having a forward end mounted for movement into said path, a light source disposed a predetermined distance forwardly of the guide track and arranged to project a beam of light laterally across said path in a position to be intercepted by cartons approaching the guide track, light responsive means positioned to receive the light beam and arranged to emit an electrical signal when the light beam is intercepted, and a solenoid mechanically connected to the forward end of the guide track and electrically connected to the weight checking means and to the light responsive means for moving the forward end of the guide track into said predetermined path upon receiving simultaneously a signal from the weight checking means and a signal from the light responsive means to divert from said predetermined path a carton failing to meet weight requirements.

8. A carton segregating apparatus comprising means for advancing cartons along a predetermined path with the covers of the cartons in a plane parallel to said path, means for successively checking the weight of the advancing cartons and for emitting a sustained electrical signal upon checking the weight of a carton failing to meet weight requirements, a guide track normally disposed above the carton advancing means and having a forward end mounted for movement into the path, a light source disposed a predetermined distance forwardly of the guide track and arranged to project a beam of light laterally across said path in a position to be intercepted by cartons approaching the guide track, light responsive means positioned to receive the light beam and arranged to emit an electrical signal when said beam of light is intercepted, a solenoid mechanically connected to the guide track and electrically connected to the weight checking means and to the light responsive means for moving the forward end of said guide track into said predetermined path upon receiving simultaneously signals from the weight checking means and from the light responsive means, and a timer electrically connected to the solenoid and arranged to maintain energization thereof for a predetermined time interval after each signal from the light responsive means has terminated.

9. A carton segregating apparatus comprising means for advancing cartons having upstanding resilient hinged covers along a predetermined path, means for checking the weight of each advancing carton in turn and for emitting a sustained electrical signal for each carton failing to meet weight requirements, a guide track normally disposed above the carton advancing means and having a forward end movable into the path of the covers of cartons advancing along said predetermined path, a light source disposed a predetermined distance forwardly of the guide track and arranged to transmit a beam of light laterally across said path in a position to be intercepted by cartons approaching the diverting means, light responsive means positioned to receive the light beam and arranged to emit an electrical signal when the light beam is intercepted and a solenoid mechanically connected to the guide track and electrically connected to the weight checking means and to the light responsive means for moving the guide track into the path of the covers of the cartons upon receiving simultaneously a signal from the weight checking means and from the light responsive means, said diverting means when moved into the path of a cover being arranged to engage the cover at a point remote from the hinge thereof to thereby cushion the effect on the carton of lateral pressure exerted on the carton by the guide track.

10. In a carton segregating apparatus, a conveyor for advancing cartons having upstanding resilient hinged covers along a predetermined path, support means disposed over said conveyor, a connecting rod slidably carried by said support means for movement laterally of said predetermined path, an elongated carton diverting track including a pair of horizontally spaced rods having forward ends secured to said connecting rod and rear portions secured to said support means and diverging from said predetermined path, resilient means disposed between said support means and said connecting rod and arranged to urge said connecting rod to a position wherein the forward ends of the rods are spaced from said predetermined path, a solenoid operatively connected to said connecting rod and arranged upon energization to move the forward ends of the rods into position to receive therebetween the cover of a carton and to make engagement therewith at a point spaced from the hinge thereof Whereby the lateral force exerted on said carton by the diverting track is cushioned by the resilient carton cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,303,681 Buccicone Dec. 1, 1942 2,466,962 Weymouth Apr. 12, 1949 2,568,255 Schieser Sept. 18, 1951 

